Jake Scott Set to Direct Jeff Buckley Biopic

Director Jake Scott (Welcome to the Rileys) has been tapped to helm a biopic about musician Jeff Buckley. Deadline reports that Scott will work from a script by Ryan Jaffe (The Rocker), with Buckley’s mother acting as an executive producer on the film. As part of the deal, rights to Buckley’s songs come with the package, and producers Michelle Sy (Finding Neverland)and Orian Williams (Control) have also optioned David Browne’s book Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley as a resource.

A star on the rise, singer-songwriter Buckley rose to prominence after his tragic drowning at the age of 30, and is probably best known for his haunting cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” Buckley spent his early career performing in small clubs and cafes in New York City, shunning the spotlight as best he could. Scott got his start directing music videos for acts such as The Smashing Pumpkins and R.E.M. before his feature debut with Welcome to the Rileys.